The blues and the reds, the haves and the have nots, the “majority” and everyone else: if you believe we’re a nation divided, you no doubt have observed that the way we relate to music has divided us, too.
In the ’60s, it was the underground vs. above ground culture. Then, it became the counter culture vs. pop culture. And the divisions were largely age oriented. Young people were the adventurous music seekers while older fans relied on the music they heard in the back seat of Dad’s Chevy when they were 16.
The very fact that there are no current labels in the American lexicon that cover the gamut of those music lovers who are adventurous vs. those who are not shows that the old divisions between those who are “in” and those who are “out” no longer applies. It’s not an age thing. There are older Americans in their 40s and beyond who are just as into what’s new and adventurous as were the hippies of the counter culture. In fact, some of them were part of that movement. Just as there are young people who are satisfied listening to manufactured hits by artists who hit and run.
Technology has increased our options of communicating with one another musically. Innovations also make it practical for the musician not only to get his music out to the public faster, cheaper and with higher quality delivery methods, but also to keep a larger share of the profits by eliminating the middle man. While the behemoths of the music industry cry that the sky is falling, the musical fan base is dividing between those satisfied with old methodologies increasingly controlled by fewer and larger corporations vs. true music aficionados who see music as the sound track of their lives and identify with the creative people who are saving American music as our cultural calling card to the world.
The lines between styles of music are evaporating. Traditional class divisions are losing their meaning. We are recognizing the real advantages of true ethnic and musical diversity. People of all ages are enjoying live music at home and on the road. The fun of discovery of new sounds is back in the musical experience for fans of all ages. That’s what we’re about at Elmore. Duke Ellington said there were only two kinds of music, good music and bad music. Guess which side of the fence we’re on. And we’re all inclusive. If music is your life’s soundtrack, and you’re as interested in looking ahead as you are curious of what came before, consider yourself on board
